What’s Going On? December 2010

An opportunity for folks in the Albq. area to meet other community members who support solar energy. A relaxed social/networking event where you can speak with NMSEA members, solar industry members and neighbors. Speakers include NMSEA board members unveiling the latest updates from NMSEA. $20 donation. For additional info, contact Robert Nelson: robert.nelson.abq@gmail.com

14th Annual; Bring family and friends and enjoy a night of eating, talking and dancing with the world music band Wagogo. Opportunities to purchase locally made gifts. $10 admission; kids under 12 free. Food is extra. Donations of warm clothing gratefully accepted on behalf of St. Martin’s Hospitality Center. For more info, call Mary: 268.9557

Jan 13, 2011, 8:30 am – 4 pm

NM Water Dialogue

Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

Registration is now open for this event. The focus will be “Economic Stress: Hard Times for Water Planning and Management?” Speakers will discuss market-based transfers of water rights and how planning changes during a time of both scarce finances and water resources. Lunch is catered by the IPCC. Register online at http://www.nmwaterdialogue.org. Fees reduced for early registrants and Dialogue members. The Dialogue is a nonprofit with a diverse statewide board and seeks to foster communication and education about NM water issues.

A group of organizers who lead gardening and farming education organizations are coordinating efforts in teaching how to grow and eat healthy foods and herbs, and live a more sustainable lifestyle. Groups include: The Gardeners Guild, Mother Nature Gardens, Mid Region Council on Governments, Sunstone Herbs, Albuquerque Backyard Farms, The Source, Girls Gone Green, Transition Towns NM, UNM Sustainability Studies, San Jose Elementary School Gardens, Zia Elementary School Community Garden, and the Albuquerque Chicken Coop Tour. For more info, visit www.abqbackyardfarms.com/ABQ_Collaborative.html

2012 Edible Albuquerque Gardens Registry

See what people are doing in ABQ. An “edible garden” is any place you grow food near where you live – from growing on your terrace – to having a full-scale frontyard or backyard farm. E-mail: info@abqbackyardfarms.com or visit http://.2012abqgardens.ning.com

Beneficial Farms CSA

Now accepting members in Albuquerque. Weekly distribution at La Montanita Coop Warehouse, 3361 Columbia Dr. NE. Beneficial Farms CSA works with up to 40 regional farms each year, and offers abundant, affordable shares of fresh fruit and vegetables and other local and regionally produced foods year round. All produce is grown with sustainable chemical free methods.

SANTA FE

Dec. 3, 6-10 pm; Dec. 4

Notions of Time

Santa Fe Complex, 632 Agua Fria

On Dec. 4, original thinkers will present ten-minute talks on time in physics, philosophy, Jungian psychology, the creative process, fiction, Buddhism, Native American culture and other subjects. Videos and photographs that illustrate different aspects of time will be projected. The event concludes Saturday evening with musical performances by the Contemporary Music Department of Santa Fe University of Art and Design and a second screening of Koyaanisqatsi. Admission for Friday night: Front row sponsors seating $50; General adm. $20. Saturday: $15. Saturday talks only are free to students with ID. Reservations recommended. Tickets: http://notionsdec2010.eventbrite.com/ More info: http://sfcomplex.org/

Dec. 4, 9am-4pm

SF Community College Arts & Crafts Fair

SFCC, 6401 Richards Ave.

Annual holiday fair featuring more than 100 of the region’s finest artisans displaying and selling works in knitting, quilting, pottery, painting, jewelry, tin work, straw appliqué, handmade cards, ornaments and much more. Admission and parking is free. For more information call 505.428.1437 or visit www.sfcc.edu.

Dec. 4, 10 am-12 pm

Buy Local Bowl

Sanbusco Market Center, 500 Montezuma Ave.

A shopping competition in support of National Buy Local Week. Get your holiday shopping done while having fun and bolstering our local economy. Show up at 9:45 am to be assigned to a team or call 989.5362 to sign-up in advance. Sponsored by the Santa Fe Alliance

The Sangre de Cristo Chorale will perform, Los Titeriteros will present two puppet performances of the holiday favorite, Doña Adelina. Hands-on art making activities for ages 2 to 102. All by Museum admission, NM residents with ID free Sundays, youth 16 and under always free. For more info, contact Aurelia Gomez: 505.476.1211 or aurelia.gomez@state.nm.us

Dec. 7, 6-8 pm

Public Meeting on Buckman Project

SF Convention Center

Third and final public meeting to present the final BDD IPR reports and the responses to comments received. Copies of the Independent Peer Review Technical Report, which describes the evaluation of the potential health risks to Santa Fe residents from future tapwater use of the Rio Grande can be obtained on the websites www.bddproject.org and www.chemrisk.com. A Community Summary and an Executive Summary will also be available.

Dec. 9, 5-7 pm

A Cowboy Christmas

Vanessie’s Restaurant, 434 W. San Francisco St.

A benefit for Horses for Heroes – NM, Inc., a nonprofit horse therapy wellness program based in Santa Fe, free to veterans and active military who have sustained physical injuries or combat trauma. 5-5:30 pm: Cocktail reception; 5:30-6 pm: Guest speakers; 6-7 pm: Dinner; Tickets: $75 advance, $100 at the door. Music. For tickets call Nicole: 505.450.8850 or Rick: 505.670.2059 or purchase through the website www.horsesforheroes.org.

Dec. 9, 6 pm

Lucy Lippard, writer, curator, activist

Tipton Hall, Santa Fe University of Art and Design

The Santa Fe Art Institute presents Lippard as part of Elemental: Earth Air Fire Water – Art as Environment. She is author of eighteen books on contemporary art, and has partnered scientists and visual artist communities to dialogue regarding climate change and ideas of how provide a sustainable future. $10 general/$5 students/seniors/members. For more info about Lucy Lippard or this event, call 505.424.5050.

Dec. 11, 1-5 pm

Teen Art Workshop

ARTbarn, 1516 Pacheco Street

Ages 13-18: Graphic Illustration – Designing a Story

$10 includes all art materials and snacks; Fine Arts for Children & Teens: 505.992.2787, e-mail: admin@factsantafe.org. More info: www.factsantafe.org

Dec. 11, 2 pm

Nate Downey – Permaculturalist

Plants of the Southwest, 3095 Agua Fria St.

Nate will speak about and sign his book “Harvest the Rain.”

Dec. 11, 7-8:30 pm

A Photographic Journey Through India

Railyard Performance Center, 1611 Paseo De Peralta

The Lake of Nine Devotions: A Benefit for the Mudslide Victims of Ladakh, a remote Tibetan region of northern India. Q & A follows presentation by photographer Josh Schrei. Cost: $5 at the door, $20 suggested donation. Info: 505.919.9530, josh.schrei@gmail.com

Artists and craftsmen who offer workshops and classes within SF County are invited to list their offerings with Santa Fe Creative Tourism at www.SantaFeCreativeTourism.org. See “Get Involved” tab to list. This service is free and provided by the city of SF Arts Commission.

Restaurants Needed for Souper Bowl

1,000 guests will decide which of SF’s finest restaurants has the best soups at Souper Bowl XVII. This benefit for The Food Depot, No. NM’s food bank will be held on Jan. 29, 2011 from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm at the SF Convention Center. To sign up, call The Food Depot at 471.1633, ext. 10. Space limited to 28 restaurants. Advance tickets ($25/$10) to the event are available beginning Jan. 4 at The Food Depot, 1222 Siler Road, or may be ordered online at www.thefooddepot.org beginning Dec. 20. Tickets will also be available at the door (adults $30, children $10) Contact Sherry Hooper: 505.471.1633, ext. 10 or 505.577.0444

Save A Ton Recycling Campaign

The city of Santa Fe and the Santa Fe New Mexican have launched a campaign to double recycling in Santa Fe in one year. Santa Feans score way below state and national averages. For a city with its own recycling facility that envisions becoming a Zero Waste community, we can do better! People should get The Green Line in the Santa Fe New Mexican on the third Thursday of each month for a full page of recycling information. Find information on the Save A Ton campaign at www.sfnewmexican.com and click on Green Line or on Facebook. Contact Regina Wheeler, SF Solid Waste Director: 505.955.2209 or e-mail rawheeler@santafenm.gov

TAOS

Through February

Earthship Intern Program

Winter learning opportunities: month-long sessions. Participants work up to 5 days a week on Earthship projects. Those who complete a month will earn a certificate to attend a future Earthship Seminar (a $450 value). This opportunity is open to those who would like to live in an Earthship on site while learning. For dates for each session and an email application, contact Kirsten Jacobsen, Education Director, Earthship Biotecture: 575.751.0462, kirsten@earthship.com

An opportunity for small farm operators and backyard gardeners to learn how to build an affordable chicken coop called a chicken tractor. This allows the chickens to graze, eat bugs and fertilize the soil. To register for the free workshop, call or e-mail Brenda at 505.565.3002 or Valencia@nmsu.edu before Dec. 13.

Dec. 22: Application Due

USDA Rural Community Development Initiative – $6.3 million

Eligible Entities: State governments, local governments, Indian tribes, non-profit organizations, and others. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture requests proposals for the Rural Community Development Initiative. RCDI supports organization capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development in rural area. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to programs that support micro-enterprise and sustainable development, and programs to assist recipients in completing pre-development requirements for housing, community facilities, or community and economic development projects by providing resources for professional services, e.g., architectural, engineering, or legal. For more info, including state contacts, go to: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=58143.

Jan. 18-19

Sustainable Foods Summit

San Francisco

How do organic, fair trade and other eco-labels contribute to sustainability? What are the sustainability needs of consumers and food companies? The summit is geared at business, marketing and technical professionals from food manufacturers, ingredient firms, retailers & distributors, industry organizations & certification agencies, researchers, investors as well as others looking at sustainability in the food industry. E-mail: info@sustainablefoodssummit.com, www.sustainablefoodssummit.com

Visit Rio Grande Return’s online store to order gift packages with products from local farmers and producers. Each gift is in turn a gift back to the source – The Rio Grande. Conservation donations go towards spring and watershed restoration projects at Zia Pueblo and Hamaatsa. Info: www.riograndereturn.com, or call 505.466.1767 or toll free: 866.466.1767, E-mail: contact@riograndereturn.com

Veterans Green Jobs Academy

Northern NM College, Espanola

Workforce training and specific degree programs to support military veterans in fully accredited academic certificate and degree programs in areas of environmental science related to renewable energy, hazardous materials response, forestry, sustainable agriculture, wildland fire science, construction trades and others. A partnership with the NM Dept. of Veterans Services. For more info, call Dr. Biggs at 505.747.5453 or visit www.nnmc.edu/vetacademy.htm.

For Rent: 200 sq. ft. Strawbale Cottage

An opportunity to live in a sustainable, small community near Cerrillos. Passive solar plus attached bath and use of a 16 ft. yurt as well as outdoor kitchen/community space and 40 acre property. Warm and comfortable, rustic, off-grid, with earthen plaster and rain catchment. Looking for someone with experience in low-tech simple living. Ironically, wi-fi is available. A small PV system powers the strawbale. Best for someone not commuting 5 days/wk. Long-term preferred. $300/month plus work trade. Check our website to learn a bit about us. www.ampersandproject.org

Community Land Trust Forming

For those seeking a truly affordable home, stability and self-sufficiency, the Community Land Trust model provides an alternative to landlessness and its accompanying ills. We are forming a rural, self-sustaining, Community Land Trust in northern NM and seek donations of land/funds, or founding members who can invest at least $10,000. To learn more about CLTs, read Kidnapped by the House, a 6-part series in Green Fire Times beginning in April 2010 at www.greenfiretimes.com or call Rebekah at 505.424.9475.